Repentance
Repentance
A selection of verses showing the importance of repentance.
Repentance is essential for our long-term future. Jesus says this when his attention is drawn to the untimely death of some contemporary people:
Luke 13 verses 1 - 5:
1 Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. 4 Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”
Repentance is concerned with a change of attitude and behaviour in our relationship with God. The prophet Ezekiel, through God’s appeal to Israel, defines repentance and its necessity:
Ezekiel 18 verses 30 - 31:
30 “Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways,” says the Lord GOD. “Return, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, in which you have transgressed; and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, house of Israel?
Jesus also calls people to repentance during his ministry:
Mark 1 verses 14 - 15:
14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
Jesus’ ministry caters for a universal human need – forgiveness of sins following repentance:
Luke 5 verses 31 - 32:
31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
After Jesus has risen from the dead he instructs his disciples to continue to invite people, whether Jews or not, to repent and believe his teaching. It is part of God’s plan already recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures:
Luke 24 verses 45 - 47:
45 Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures. 46 He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Jesus’ apostles carry out this commission and preach repentance throughout the Roman Empire:
Acts 3 verse 19:
19 “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,
Acts 26 verses 19 - 20:
19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
Repentance includes an awareness of mistakes and guilt. Without guilt for the wrongdoing, no repentance or remorse can take place.
In addition to that sense of guilt and willingness to ask for forgiveness for it, repentance includes works of faith. Man must realise that God is kind, but also that He is neither soft nor weak. In kindness He calls everyone to come to Himself. He takes those who wish to hear His call firmly by the hand and leads them to a radical life change.
“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realising that God’s kindness leads you towards repentance?” (Ro 2:4 NIV)
“First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” (Ac 26:20 NIV)
While it may not be easy for us at times and suffering lurking around the corner that drifts us to God, it may also lead us to take other paths or to 'turn around'. It turns us around and takes us away from our old personality.
It leads us to take on a new personality and returns us to the way of salvation. Because of this, we should never regret that kind of pain. But those who allow themselves to be driven away from God by suffering are full of regret and end up on a deathbed of regret.
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2Co 7:10 NIV)
God is always ready to forgive, and we are assured that He will do so to a great extent. But then it also requires a hearing ear to God, and forgiveness on your part to others who are said to have done something wrong against you, and it also requires abandoning the ungodly life and the evil way of thinking.
Then it will be seen that when one turns to Jehovah God, He is merciful and abundant with forgiveness.
“They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them,” (Ne 9:17 NIV)
“Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” (Isa 55:7 NIV)
What matters is for man to realise that Jehovah, a God of mercy and grace, is infinitely patient - so much love, so deeply true in faithfulness.
“And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,” (Ex 34:6 NIV)
If we want to call on Him, He will always be willing to those who listen to Him, if we take our approach to Him appropriately. Then we will also be able to see how God always checks and keeps everything under control. From the early times people could sense this and get their petitions answered.
“12 In his distress he sought the favour of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.” (2Ch 33:12-13 NIV)
Let us always be aware that Jehovah is a God who does not get angry easily and is immensely willing in loyal love to forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. He is willing to remove us from sin and the sinful world if we wish to belong to His world. As a father, God the Father also wishes to be available to us, to listen to us and overlook our flaws.
“‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.’” (Nu 14:18 NIV)
“12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;” (Ps 103:12-13 NIV)
“"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” (Isa 43:25 NIV)
With those reassuring words of God and with His acceptance of the redeemer Jesus Christ's atoning or ransom sacrifice, our sins have now been atoned for; and we are redeemed from the Curse of sin and the Curse of death.